Put on 24x S4 Omnisky XII's and call it a day. It's possible for one gunner to destroy a fighter with one trigger pull if you hit a vital area.
Also, you'd better have air superiority if you are flying Hammerheads with ballistics for ground support. Otherwise, if you expend all or most of your ammo, it's possible for just two Hornets with fixed Omnisky loadouts to take you out. Or just one if you aren't managing shields properly.

If you haven't seen it yet, (I believe) this is the first FPS mission that has been put into the game. I recorded it as CIG wanted feedback on the mission, the AI, and Kareah, but I thought I'd share it here in case you haven't seen it yet. AI behavior leaves a lot to be desired, but it's a step in the right direction.